Chapter 33: The Devil Deals the Cards, Part 13

Whispers.

Since Mary had made her appearance, there hadn't been so many spectators; the number of children and adults alike had been considerably reduced. Even so, there were too many for his taste, watching his public humiliation.

If only he had noticed the rope. Although it was almost invisible even now that he was looking at it directly. Although he hadn't known that a single blow would break the transformation. What had Adams called it? Ah, yes. Cinderella's magic, the fucking bastard. It had nothing to do with it, but oh, god, god!

"This kid is crazy," one of the adults muttered. "Always causing trouble lately, so much privilege has gone to his head."

"And all because he happened to be born on the first day of the family conference. As if God had sent an heir. Yeah, some heir."

Sam clenched his fists; his expression must have been like that of a wild animal.

Although undoubtedly one that was cornered.

"So it was you. Of course, how could it not be?" Adams muttered, approaching, while Sam remained on the ground. Mary wasn't far behind. Sam realized that the woman didn't seem surprised at all. If he had done it, Adams surely had too. That was interesting, but he had other things to worry about right now.

Violet and Christina also set off, approaching, but not too close.

He wondered what they were thinking.

Was he losing them? Had this been too much for them?

Pretending to be Rose, even though they didn't even appreciate her? No, it couldn't be. It was just that they didn't know what to do, what to say, how to get in the middle of this. People tended to prefer being observers. That was all.

Acting was a risk, it cost...

It had cost him...

No!

"I suppose other more studious and curious people would want to know how," Adams said, "but I've always preferred why?"

"You already know why!" Sam spat. "Do you think anyone wants you snooping around here? Not a single person? It's just that I've been the only one with the balls to put into practice what we've all been thinking. Some plan, some way to get you out of here, to stop you from getting in the way! This family doesn't need any bloodhound coming around sniffing for its secrets."

That speech had been improvised and fake, but Sam hit the ground with both fists with real rage.

A rage that seemed petulant rather than imposing. Yes, he knew that perfectly well. So what?

Mary extended a hand to help him up. For a moment Sam considered slapping it away. Rather, he felt an impulse that almost took over him. A stupid and petty impulse. Controlling himself, he grasped her hand, standing up, one hand on his new mother's shoulder.

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What face was he making? Sam Wright was considerably more attractive than Sam had been, just Sam, but it couldn't be anything less than a horrible grimace.

To what extent had she realized, how many pieces had she put together? Could he still save this situation?

"Samuel, get out of here," Mary said.

"No, the boy shouldn't go anywhere," Adams said.

"You're fired. Okay? It's over. We won't pay you another cent, and you'll never work in this kingdom again. I'll destroy your future."

Adams' expression changed. His eyes shone and Sam thought it was as if he was seeing him for the first time.

"I'm not doing this for money. And I won't force him to stay, but I think he'll want to."

"Oh, really?" Mary said.

"Yes." Adams, however, only had eyes for him. "Because right now I'm going to the chapel."

A chill ran from his neck to the tips of his toes. What had he said? What the hell had he said? But he already knew, he just didn't want to accept it. He would go to the chapel. He would open the coffin, and then he would see that Rose was missing her heart. Although they didn't know exactly how his powers worked, it was obviously demonic, something no normal person would do. Things would get much worse when he inevitably investigated Evelyn's corpse. He hadn't covered his tracks properly. It wouldn't change anything, even if he had, incinerated her body or something. Anyone would realize the reason. You didn't need to be intelligent. Everything would end if he saw the missing heart.

What the hell could he do to prevent it?

Adams set off, heading towards the exit. The relatively few spectators who remained followed him as if they were tied to him by invisible strings, being dragged rather than following, that is.

Even Violet and Christina did it. They passed by him without saying anything, although at least they looked at him. They didn't know what to think.

Without saying anything directly, Adams was painting a very ugly picture. The picture of the truth.

There was nothing more horrible. People could spend their lives running from the truth, after all.

Sam decided to go after Adams. He still hadn't thought about what to do, how the hell he could fix this, but he had to move. Time was running out.

It was his own fault that he was in this situation, but that damned bastard, how did he realize things so quickly? If messing with a corpse was abnormal, what could you call someone who immediately jumped to the conclusion that that was what had happened, as if it were common sense?

He dragged himself towards the chapel of destiny, following the crowd that wouldn't stop whispering. Sam heard everything, although he didn't want to. Although he needed to concentrate.

"Detective Adams," Mary said, "you're not going to enter the chapel. I have no idea what you're trying to do, but you'll stay away from my daughter's body. Who do you think you are? You can't do whatever you please!"

Adams ignored her, kept walking towards the chapel. What a guy, he absolutely didn't care that his head was on the guillotine. He had to admit, he had balls.

I'd better cut them off, he thought.

Sam became increasingly tense, like a panther about to pounce on its prey. He had to do something and soon. When Adams stepped on the first of the steps, he flew about ten meters and fell hard on the grass. He coughed, writhing on the ground, trying to catch his breath. Needless to say, but Mary was responsible.

"I warned you too many times. So you can only blame yourself for your stupidity."

Mary advanced towards the fallen detective.

"Mom!" Violet shouted, but the woman turned a deaf ear.

Had the impact really been that hard? Adams looked like he couldn't stand up even if his life depended on it. Sam connected the dots, but too late for it to mean anything.

He opened his mouth to warn her, but only the first syllable came out. Then Adams threw dust in her face, momentarily blinding her, and like the rat he was, he slipped towards the doors of the chapel.

Sam tried to use his telekinesis to stop him.

However, it had no effect.

It didn't surprise him that people in this world could resist magic to some extent, it would be half the point of receiving training, and Adams had obviously been expecting some attack on his part...

But it was still fucking inconvenient.

He wasn't fast enough. Adams forced the chapel doors open.

Screams.

Some protested what Adam had done, others offered to help Mary. Still others entered the chapel along with Adam, who didn't hesitate to throw off the lid of the coffin.

Exposing the girl's pierced chest.

The bloody void inside.

The Devil Deals the Cards, Part 13: END